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Field trial of a genetically improved baculovirus insecticide

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 19:03 authored by Jennifer S Cory, Mark L Hirst, Trevor Williams, Rosemary S Hails, Dave GoulsonDave Goulson, Bernadette M Green, Timothy M Carty, Robert D Possee, P Jane Cayley, David H L Bishop
Improvement of biological pesticides through genetic modification has enormous potential and the insect baculoviruses are particularly amenable to this approach. A key aim of genetic engineering is to increase their speed of kill, primarily by the incorporation of genes which encode arthropod or bacterially derived insect-selective toxins, insect hormones or enzymes. We report here the first, to our knowledge, field trial of a genetically improved nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica (AcNPV) that expresses an insect-selective toxin gene (AaHIT) derived from the venom of the scorpion Androctonus australis. Previous laboratory assays with the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, demonstrated a 25% reduction in time to death compared to the wild-type virus, but unaltered pathogenicity and host range. In the field, the modified baculovirus killed faster, resulting in reduced crop damage and it appeared to reduce the secondary cycle of infection compared to the wild-type virus. Improvement of biological pesticides through genetic modification has enormous potential and the insect baculoviruses are particularly amenable to this approach. A key aim of genetic engineering is to increase their speed of kill, primarily by the incorporation of genes which encode arthropod or bacterially derived insect-selective toxins, insect hormones or enzymes. We report here the first, to our knowledge, field trial of a genetically improved nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica (AcNPV) that expresses an insect-selective toxin gene (AaHIT) derived from the venom of the scorpion Androctonus australis. Previous laboratory assays with the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, demonstrated a 25% reduction in time to death compared to the wild-type virus, but unaltered pathogenicity and host range. In the field, the modified baculovirus killed faster, resulting in reduced crop damage and it appeared to reduce the secondary cycle of infection compared to the wild-type virus.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Nature

ISSN

0028-0836

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Issue

6485

Volume

370

Page range

138-140

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-11-26

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    University of Sussex (Publications)

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